Complications post spinal cord stimulator surgery - help
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I had my spinal cord stimulator replaced back in July 2017. I had my original implant done in 2008 and things have been fine until I re injured my back in May 2017 and my old SCS did not cover the new nerve pain. The new SCS is a Boston with the paddle lead. The surgeon had to remove 2 lamina in the thoracic area in order to remove the old lead and place the new one. Post surgery I experienced terrible muscle spasms in my back and an overnight hospital stay turned into 4 nights before I could be discharged. I am now 8 months post op and I still have bad spasms on either side of my spine that never allowed me to return to work and have now resulted in the loss of my job. The neurosurgeon won’t even talk to me about it, months of PT haven’t helped and no one can tell me if it will ever improve. I can’t stay in any stationary position for any extended length of time and working with my arms in front of me or above shoulder height will cause those muscles in my back to “lock up” within 30-45 seconds.
Has anyone else heard of or experienced anything similar? Truly at my wits end. Thank you.
0 likes, 2 replies
nancy43771 david_66981
Posted
My suggestion would be to try osteopathic manipulations. Sounds like your body has been through an extremely hard time and the manipulations could help it settle down. I call the body's muscle tightness response - "protection mode". If that is your situation then the manipulations might help stop the habitual tightening up. The manipulations are very subtle but the help can be dramatic. Here in the states not all Osteopathic doctors do the manipulations so you need to clarify that you want one who specializes in the manipulations. The clinic I go to the doctors are all osteopaths and psychiatrists (2 year non-surgical pain treatment program) with expertise in body and cranial manipulations. They also add acupuncture to many of my sessions. Pain medications and muscle relaxers never helped at all.
allaroundanne david_66981
Posted
Do you have the SCS on, are the reps still trying to program it or is everyone hands off now like your neurosurgeon? It honestly sounds like you are having some spillage of the current into the musculature of the adjacent area where the paddles are placed. I would think someone must have ruled this out? There isn't a short in the leads to the paddle?